FlintShotton

Flisho two
Not verified

Slow Way not verified yet. Verify Flisho here.

By Hiking Historian on 20 Feb 2023


Distance

14km/9mi

Ascent

219m

Descent

220m

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So far it has been reviewed by two people and surveyed by one person and there is one issue flagged with this route.

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Description

Rewrite of original route, using less unpaved roads and more open and accessible footpaths

Rewrite of original route, using less unpaved roads and more open and accessible footpaths

Status

This route has been reviewed by 2 people.

This route has been flagged (1 times) for reasons relating to access.

Photos for Flisho two

Photos of this route will appear when they are added to a review. You can review this route here.


Information

Not verified

Route status - Live

Reviews - 2

Average rating -

Is this route good enough? -  Yes (1) Maybe (1)

Problems reported -  Access (1)

Downloads - 2

Surveys

What is this route like?

Surveys are submitted by fellow users of this website and show what you might expect from this Slow Ways route. Scroll down the page to read more detailed surveys.

Grade 5X based on 1 surveys Sign up or log in to survey this route.
Description Note
Grade 5: Route includes technical and arduous terrain where there may be potentially impassable barriers if the correct equipment is not used or barriers which require assistance to overcome. Potential barriers must be photographed and described.
Access grade X: At least one stile, flight of steps or other obstacle that is highly likely to block access for wheelchair and scooter users.
Grading is based on average scores by surveyors. This slow way has 1 surveys.
Full grading description

Only people who have completed our training can become Slow Ways surveyors and submit a survey. We do not vet contributors, so we cannot guarantee the quality or completeness of the surveys they complete. If you are dependent on the information being correct we recommend reading and comparing surveys before setting off.

Survey Photos

Facilities

Facilities in the middle third of this route.

Not present at time of survey Public toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Wheelchair accessible toilet (1)
Not present at time of survey Supermarket (1)
Not present at time of survey Restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Vegan restaurant (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation (1)
Not present at time of survey Accommodation < £50 (1)
Not present at time of survey Campsite (1)
Not present at time of survey Bothy (1)
Not present at time of survey Free wifi (1)
Not present at time of survey Public phone (1)
Present at time of survey Mobile phone coverage (1)
Not present at time of survey Train station (1)
Not present at time of survey Bench (1)
Not present at time of survey Picnic table (1)
Not present at time of survey Bus stop (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry (1)

Challenges

Potential challenges reported on this route. Some challenges are seasonal.

Maybe present Scrambling (1)
Not present at time of survey Wading (1)
Not present at time of survey Swimming (1)
Not present at time of survey Climbing (1)
Maybe present Stepping stones (1)
Present at time of survey Very slippery (1)
Present at time of survey Very muddy (1)
Present at time of survey Very icy (1)
Maybe present Likely to flood (1)
Present at time of survey Long grass sections (1)
Present at time of survey Crops encroaching on path (1)
Maybe present Diverted path (1)

Obstacles

Obstacles on this route.

Present at time of survey Stiles (1)
Present at time of survey Step and kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Possible to avoid steps, if applicable (1)
Present at time of survey Flights of steps (1)
Present at time of survey Gates (1)
Present at time of survey Kissing gates (1)
Present at time of survey Locked gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Disables access gates (1)
Not present at time of survey Cycle barriers (1)
Not present at time of survey Ladders (1)
Not present at time of survey Cattle grids (1)
Present at time of survey Fords (1)
Present at time of survey Narrow bridges (1)
Not present at time of survey Ferry required (1)
Acceptable road walking (0)
Present at time of survey Unacceptable road walking (1)
Present at time of survey Dangerous road crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on paths beside roads (1)
Present at time of survey Walking on verges beside roads (1)
Not present at time of survey Railway crossings (1)
Not present at time of survey River crossings (1)
Present at time of survey Cattle possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Horses possible (1)
Not present at time of survey Tidal area (1)
Present at time of survey Potential falls (1)
Present at time of survey Exposed to elements (1)
Not present at time of survey Remote area (1)
Not present at time of survey Mountainous area (1)
Not present at time of survey Military training area (1)
Present at time of survey No visible path (1)
Maybe present Seasonal nesting birds (1)
Present at time of survey Other hazards (1)

Accessibility

Is this route step and stile free?

Not present at time of survey Free of stiles (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of single steps/kerbs (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of flights of steps (1)
Not present at time of survey Free of other obstacles (1)

Measurements

Surveyors were asked to measure the narrowest and steepest parts of paths.

The narrowest part of the path is 30.0cm (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking East 20.0% (1)

The steepest uphill gradient walking West 10.0% (1)

The steepest camber gradient across the path 60.0% (1)

How clear is the waymarking on the route: Unclear in places (1)

Successfully completed

We asked route surveyors "Have you successfully completed this route with any of the following? If so, would you recommend it to someone with the same requirements?". Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Recommended by an expert

We asked route surveyors "Are you a trained access professional, officer or expert? If so, is this route suitable for someone travelling with any of the following?" Here is how they replied.

Small Pug-sized dog (0)
Small Labrador-sized dog (0)
Large St. Bernard-sized dog (0)
Standard pram (0)
Off-road rugged pram (0)
Standard wheelchair (0)
Off-road rugged wheelchair (0)
Standard mobility scooter (0)
Off-road rugged mobility scooter (0)

Terrain

We asked route surveyors to estimate how much of the route goes through different kinds of terrain.

35.0% of the route is on roads (1)

25.0% of the route is lit at night (1)

40.0% of the route is paved (1)

40.0% of the route is muddy (1)

35.0% of the route is over rough ground (1)

20.0% of the route is through long grass (1)

Report a problem with this data

1 surveys

Information from verified surveys.

5X June 2023 by Geopenny
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Geography information system (GIS) data

Total length

Maximum elevation

Minimum elevation

Start and end points

Flint
Grid Ref SJ2452373118
Lat / Lon 53.24970° / -3.13265°
Easting / Northing 324,523E / 373,118N
What3Words nerves.refills.sleepy
Shotton
Grid Ref SJ3069368861
Lat / Lon 53.21229° / -3.03927°
Easting / Northing 330,693E / 368,861N
What3Words ambient.happier.inspects

Sorry Land Cover data is not currently available for this route. Please check back later.

reviews


Geopenny

24 Jun 2023 Summer

I was very much looking forward to this walk based on the first review, but unfortunately it isn't as straightforward in the summertime as it was in the winter. First off, the good bits. I walked in the Flint to Shotton direction. The sections from Flint to above Flint Mountain, and from Northop Hill to Shotton, were fine to excellent. A bit of mud, some uneven and rocky ground in places and a small brook to cross on the way up to Flint Mountain, and a narrow pavement on the street section from Northop Hill towards Ewloe, are the only real watch points to mention. Sturdy footwear and mindful foot placement should be sufficient to overcome these unless there has been heavy rain shortly before. The section through Wepre Park is highly recommended - just be aware the visitor centre shuts at 4pm (I only just managed to get an ice cream before they closed).
Where things fell apart was the field-based section in the middle. The stile into the first field off Starkey Lane was so overgrown it was almost invisible. Access was still possible through the gate a little further down the road, but the field had been planted perpendicular to the route of the public access path, with no space around the edges to avoid trampling on the growing corn.
Seeking alternatives, I followed Starkey Ln in the direction of the dead end sign (northeast), as it appeared to join up with the intended route after it did a 'u' pattern. When I got to the end of the road I met a gate, also with a dead end sign on it (which I forgot to photgraph but is visible on Streetview). As the road became rutted and gravelly after this point, and wasn't marked as public access on the Flintshire map, I turned around to pursue a different set of public access paths from the farm at the 90deg bend in Starkey Ln. However, after the first two gates the path was completely blocked with ferns, brambles and thistles, and I retreated back to the original field.
Not wanting to give up, the least bad option at this point was to divert via the main road into Northop, and from there follow Connah's Quay Rd back towards the other end of Starkey Ln. There is a public access path at the end of Starkey Ln through a cow field, which eventually brings you out on the main road at the point where the pavement starts. However, you have to leave the field via the access road (2 gates to climb), not the overgrown public access point/stile, and you have to cross a 60mph road to get to the pavement (do not do this at rush hour due to commuting traffic from the A55). After carefully navigating the two roundabouts and their slip roads to reach Northop (hint: bus stops and food options if required), I worked my way round to Connah's Quay Rd, which is 40mph with a pavement. I later discovered I could have gone down Church Rd and used a footpath to get to the A55 bridge, but at the time I stuck to the main road. Just before the bridge I met a local dog walker who provided some very useful info. It is ok to continue on Starkey Ln past the gate with the dead end sign on foot, but it becomes increasingly muddy and stoney as you get further along (it's a farm track, not a road).
Meanwhile, the pavement ended right after I crossed the A55, continuing as a grass verge for a short stretch before reaching a driveway for a farm (there is no pavement or usable verge beyond this point). Following the green walker signs I picked up the intended route again at the 90deg bend closest to this farm, travelling once again in a north-northeasterly direction. The first two fields weren't too bad - you could walk alongside or between the corn rows. It wasn't overly clear how to exit the second field (back left corner - follow the hedge to the grass patch). I eventually found trample marks and the narrow gap through the hedge. The third field was wheat/grass, and following trample marks round a curved section of the field boundary I found a wooden post with a green and yellow arrow on it. It turned out to be a fence around a stile, but it was completely overgrown with brambles and stinging nettles, and long sleeves and trousers were not sufficient protection as I picked my way through.
The field on the other side was more wheat, with the narrow gap between the wheat and the hedge full of thistles. There was a darker row of younger growth between the main crop sections (?tractor tracks that had filled in), and so I picked my way along that trying not to trample anything. Thankfully, at the other end there was a gate, which turned out to be the exit onto Starkey Ln. The official route continued through the next few fields to the junction of Connah's Quay Rd and Smithy Ln, but as I'd had more than enough of pulling thorns out of my fingers at this point I went up Starkey Ln to Connah's Quay Rd and hugged the verge for the short distance up to Smithy Ln (50mph main road - be very careful).
Once onto Smithy Ln it was a short walk to the next field section, which was mowed grass and much easier to traverse. However, the farmers were busy in a further field collecting the grass (not sure hay or silage), and so I ended up exiting early through a marked public access gate out of the second field, emerging onto Alun Close in Northop Hall. From there I followed the high street to the junction with Bryn Gwyn Rd and rejoined the intended route.
It is worth noting that the road section between Ewloe and Wepre Lane in Northop Hall is a major commuter route for those using the A494 to reach Connah's Quay, and at certain times of day crossing the road here will be impossible/hazardous. An alternative option is to turn right out of Bryn Gwyn Rd onto the high street and use the public access footpath by the Black Lion pub and bus stop heading south. It takes you directly to Chester Rd (60mph road with pavement) a bit further down from where the intended route does.
I do not want to completely slam this route - the scenery was excellent, and I suspect walking through the fields outside growing season will be far less challenging. If you want to do it in the summer, though, be sure to bring thick gloves and a pair of secaturs.

  • Hiking Historian

    Hiking Historian

    24 Jun 2023

    That's a shame! It was such a straightforward route when I did it in February, and much more accessible than the original. It was mainly winter pasture when I walked it.

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Hiking Historian

23 Feb 2023 Winter

A good walk through the countryside around east Flintshire, avoiding unpaved roads and footpaths of questionable nature.

From Flint station, through the paved residential roads and, shortly after starting, into the countryside. Footpaths run through fields and along their boundaries. Just past a cottage, the marked footpath has been closed, but the wooded track that runs to Mynnydd Y Fflint/Flint Mountain is a pleasant a shady one, albeit muddy in places.

From the small hamlet, paved apart from a short section (but a quiet dead end), we are once more through fields. A short unpaved section, and, once more, many fields and tracks to the crossroads just outside Northop Hall, where we have a crossing and another unpaved road, but only for a few yards. More fields, then around a sports field into woods, then along paved roads through the village itself.

A short footpath takes us away from an uphill unpaved stretch of road to a paved one, which we follow before taking the footpath into, and through, Wepre Park, a wooded country park with good paths, and also Ewloe Castle. Out of the park, and it's a couple of short walks along roads to Shotton station.

A nice walk through fields and along rural tracks. Unpaved roads are kept to a bare minimum, with only yards to negotiate. The terrain and use of many stiles make this a foot-only route, however. Rail and bus stops and shops at both ends, and a café in Wepre Park.


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Flint—Shotton

Flisho one

Distance

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Ascent

186 m

Descent

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Ascent

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Descent

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